those emails I read through, and all the worrying I did was for nichts—for nothing. I guess I should’ve taken it there as soon as I found it.”
Ruby laughed, too. “Well, blame me for the delay. The social media search was my idea.” She bounced the cell phone on her palm. “I’m supposed to call the officer back and let him know when we can meet the owner.”
Kenzie chewed her lip. “Why should I be rewarded for giving something back that was never mine to start with? Besides, I feel funny about meeting up with someone I don’t know. I don’t think my daed would approve.”
Ruby released a little huff. “Now, I wouldn’t send you off on a dangerous rendezvous. The meeting will be at the police station, so no worries about safety.” She clasped her hands as if she were praying. “I’d like to know who owned that beautiful ring with its romantic inscription. I don’t get a lot of excitement, so humor me. Let’s meet the owner.”
Kenzie looked into Ruby’s hopeful face, and she melted. “Okay. Set it up. But not for today. Brother Jase and I have an errand with Lori.”
Ruby tapped her chin with her finger. “How about we try to arrange it on your off-schedule day? You’re not working on Wednesday this week, right?”
Kenzie nodded.
“I’ll make sure both Barbara and Van are here. Then I’ll be free to drive you over.” She clapped her hands. “Oh, this is fun! A real-life mystery solved.” She winked. “I can’t wait to tell Eileen. She’ll be so tickled!” She hurried off.
Kenzie sat for a moment, frowning at the end of the aisle where Ruby had disappeared from view. Meeting the ring’s owner might be okay. Especially at a safe place with Ruby along. But she wasn’t sure about accepting a reward. Shouldn’t doing good be reward enough? She’d thank the person for the offer but not take the money. Then her conscience would be clear.
Lori
Lori stopped on the concrete slab outside the door to her family’s modest 1950s ranch-style home. When Mom was alive, potted flowers sat at both corners and a bent wire holder with different flags for each month of the year hung on the door. May’s had tulips on it. Where were those flags now?
Kenzie and Jase stepped up onto the stoop beside her. Kenzie gave Lori a worried look. “Are you going in?”
Lori huffed out a mighty breath. “I don’t know, guys. Maybe this isn’t smart. Maybe it’d be better for me to let sleeping dogs lie, you know what I mean?”
Jase placed his hand on her shoulder, barely a touch. “If you really want to change your mind, we won’t argue with you. But as I recall, you set three goals. To pray more, to put your focus on someone besides yourself, and to make peace with your dad.”
How had he remembered all that? He must really listen when she talked. She found it both flattering and intimidating. “I know, and I am praying more. I’m saving up to buy one of the looms at the shop so I can contribute to”—she glanced at Kenzie, choosing her words carefully—“an important cause. Two out of three. That’s worth something, isn’t it?”
Kenzie nodded. “It is. It’s worth a lot. But, Lori, be honest with yourself. What will you regret more—failing at an honest attempt to reconcile or not even trying and spending the rest of your life wondering what might have been?”
The pressure of Jase’s hand increased. “She gave you some wise advice there. I’d listen to her, if I was you.”
Lori stared at Kenzie for a few seconds, then at Jase, and she let out another huff. “All right. You’re right. If I don’t at least try, there’s no hope. We should always grab for hope, right?”
A smile curved Jase’s lips, a content, almost secretive smile she’d never seen on his face before. It raised myriad questions in her mind, but she didn’t have a chance to ask even one. He reached past her and rang the doorbell.
Lori held her breath, watching the door, waiting, silently counting seconds to distract herself…eight, nine, ten, el— The door creaked open, and her youngest brother, Laban, stood on the other side of the threshold.
Lori gave a little jolt, just as she’d done on Easter Sunday when he answered the door. Had he grown even more since then? Laban was so tall. As tall as Jase. He didn’t look like a boy anymore, either. He’d been